Continuing our reading of 2 Cor. (sorry Barnabas)

Continuing our reading of 2 Cor. (Sorry Barnabas).

Today, Paul is trying to help the church at Corinth understand and deal with frustrating circumstances.  In 1 Cor. he said that he was planning a trip to see them.  Now they get this letter instead of a visit and he feels the need to help them understand the disappointment.  And in the process he provides a very beautiful piece of theology.

First, he simply tells them that his change of plans isn’t due to his lack of affection for them or a change in priorities, but that what he had decided to do had been overruled by God.  This sounds a lot like St. Ignatius when he had discerned to go to Jerusalem, waited in Venice for a while, and was told it was not possible to go to Venice, and went to Rome instead. 

Our discernment is limited by our humanity, and we simply can’t discern something with full knowledge, it is always contingent upon practical realities and the veto power of God.  But God works everything to the good, and usually, even in frustrations, exceeds our previous expectations.  In these two cases: Paul’s delay in visiting the Church at Corinth produced the treasure of this letter.  And Ignatius’ failure to make it to Jerusalem produced the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus.  So we are happy that their plans were frustrated.  And consoled when things don’t work out that we discern or plan.

But then Paul goes beyond the simple issue of the limitations of human discernment.  The context is Paul’s apparent broken promise, but his statement reaches well beyond this.

Paul says:  “For many are the promises of God, their ‘yes’ in Christ; therefore, the ‘amen’ from us goes through Christ to God for glory.”

Paul focuses the attention of the Christians at Corinth on the sure and certain promises of God (as opposed to the contingent promises of people). 

And then he mentions that the promises of God have their ‘yes’ in Christ.  Christ is both the ‘yes’ of human faithfulness to God that keeps up our end of the covenant, and he is the ‘yes’ of divine faithfulness that provides truth, forgiveness, and love.

And through our ‘amen’ we enter into both ‘yeses’ of Christ. 

So at the Eucharist, when you come forward to receive, and I say “the body of Christ” your ‘Amen’ is not just ritual. 

I am presenting you with a dual reality.  Have you ever noticed the ambiguity of the phrase?

When I say, “the body of Christ” I am saying “This is the body of Christ,” and you say ‘amen’ meaning  ‘yes it is’.  And through your ‘amen’ you enter into Christ’s human faithfulness to God.  His faithfulness becomes yours.

But When I say, “the body of Christ” I am, simultaneously, looking at you and addressing you, saying “you are the body of Christ,” and you say ‘amen’ meaning ‘yes I am.’  And through your ‘amen’ you enter into Christ’s divine faithfulness to us, by promising to bring his truth, forgiveness, and love to others.

So today, let us try to get our minds around this reality, and at Communion, let us give a hearty ‘amen.’